Rock Bottom

AE,

I'm sorry to hear that you've hit rock bottom. Remember, when you hit BOTTOM - there is NOWHERE else to go but UP. (HUGS) Take this in stride. Face the office tomorrow. Be confident in knowing that you're tired... and knowing that you plan on being the best you that you can be! :flowerforyou:

-Elle

I am going to start my Hip Hop Abs and then start using my gym membership. I have already changed my eating habits by I need to incorporate exercise.

Boom! Wish you all the best! Add me for motivation and a *kitten* kicking should you need it.

I guess we have each been there one time or the other! My rock bottom day was Feb. 17th 2012 from there I have turned my life around! I hurt all the time and knew it was then or never! You can do this. The days that you feel like quiting just think of today and never look back! Good luck!! You can do this. I started with 100 lbs to loose I couldn't think about any more. I've got 38 to go to reach that goal and then I will reevaluate and go from there. It's a daily choice, if today you goof you start again tomorrow. Hang in there!

Get going with this and be consistant. This time next year you will be looking back and realize that yesterday was the BEST day of your life because it woke you up to wanting to make this change.

Celebrate that and welcome.

Well, if you're at rock bottom, there's no place to go but up! :flowerforyou:

Just remember that you didn't gain all the weight in one day, so it'll take some time for it to come off. That was hardest for me to accept at first. So be patient with your body, and at first, just try to move more until you build up your endurance. Add a little bit more time, or work a little harder each day and you'll get there.

BTW - Hip Hop Abs was my first workout program too. Shaun T is so much fun to work out with. :drinker:

Snow shoeing is frickin' hard!! Don't beat yourself up too bad. Use it as motivation, like "Next time I'll make it 20 minutes or further up the hill."

THIS!! I consider myself to be in pretty good shape (I lift, I run, bike, etc...), but only last 15 minutes the first time I went snowshoeing, and had to sit and read to catch my breath for awhile before heading home. It's not nearly as easy as it looks, likely because you are not just exerting yourself, but also breathing in very cold air at the same time. Don't be so hard on yourself. Many people wouldn't have even tried.

Don't cry! Just look at this as now you have a base line to compare back to! You will be fine, I need to get back in the gym myself feel free to add me and then we can encourage each other!

change your life TODAY, a year from now you'll be glad you did...
You decide when...
Good luck

So awesome that you did that snow shoeing for 15 minutes!!!! I hear that is BRUTAL!!!!!! Give yourself some credit for that!!!!! and just remember, we are here for each other on this journey...and it IS a journey....you will have some amazing days and some days that might really suck, but what matters is how you handle those crappy days. Are you going to roll over and give up? Or are you going to get up and brush yourself off and continue on your journey? Baby steps.....change 1 thing at a time until you have more confidence in this journey...it works......you have to like yourself enough to know you are worth it (talking to myself here big time!!) And lean on US.....
Friend me if you want.....will be your biggest cheerleader!!!!
Kathey:flowerforyou:

I've been in the same boat for a while, but my boyfriend recommended a routine which is really building up my strength, so you might try it. It's a simple routine and takes about half an hour. At first it's going to suck and if you're really out of shape, you are going to feel like you're dying afterward, but if you do it 5-6 days a week and keep at it, you will notice a huge difference in a few weeks. Also, some of the exercises you might not be able to do well at first or it might not seem like you can do it at all. Just do your best and you will notice over time that they are easier to do and always work on trying to improve your form, such as doing deeper lunges or squats. Within a couple weeks I already began to notice some muscle definition in my arms and legs. And I still have a lot of weight to lose, so if I can do it, just about anyone can.

All you need is a little space and if you want, a yoga mat for the floor exercises.

Stretch for 5-10 minutes. I use to skip this, but it's important so you can make it through the routine without hurting yourself. Let me know if you need some examples of stretches. You can set a timer and run through these exercises until it runs out. I'd suggest starting with 15 minutes then increase to 20 or more when you're no longer breaking a sweat. Otherwise, you can run through the routine two times and it takes about 15 minutes. Try not to pause between exercises if possible. When I'm really hurting, I allow myself a break of 3 quick breaths and then I'm on to the next one.

1. Run in place for a count of 40, make sure to bring the knees up as high as you can and swing your arms.
2. Do 20 pushups. I know this sounds like a lot, but do your best and it is fine to do a modified pushup (on your knees instead of toes).
3. Do 20 squats. Place your feet shoulder width apart and put your arms straight out in front of you with one hand over the other. This is to help make sure you are keeping your back straight. Bend your knees and go as low as you can while keeping your back straight. It will kind of look like a sitting position.
4. Do 20 crunches. Lay flat on your back and lift your feet just slightly in the air. Put your hands behind your head and curl your torso up as far as you can.
5. Do 20 jumping jacks. If you can't do a full jumping jack, hop in place without moving your feet apart but still move your arms as you normally would.
6. Do 40 side left lifts. Lay on your side and lift your uppermost leg about a foot and a half from the ground, bring it back down and repeat 20 times. Turn on your other side and repeat with the other leg.
7. Do 20 scissor kicks. Lay on your back and lift each leg one at a time, about a foot and a half in the air.
8. Do 20 lunges. Make sure you have about 10 feet of space. Start at one end and step forward with your right foot, bending both your knees, almost like you are going to kneel one one knee, then step forward with your left foot and do the same thing. Go 5 steps in one direction and back then repeat.

After you are done, do 15 minutes of cardio, such as walking fast, jogging, elliptical, or stationary bike.

At first I thought it was silly to alternate between exercises where you stand or sit but I realize now it helps keep your heart rate up. I hope this helps someone else because it sure has helped me and I'm feeling really good after doing this routine 5-6 days a week for the last month.

Amen to that there's only one direction from here. Up :-) I hear your embarrassment and how humilated it felt. I'm not sure this helps at all but when I look back it's those terribly shocking, embarrassing moments that gave me what I needed to get what I really want. Maybe this will be true for you..maybe you will look back at this moment and think of it as your saving grace..who knows. Hang in there!!

You can do this! There's no where to go but up now! Don't worry about the people at the office. You are going to show them, and more importantly yourself, that you are capable of doing this - because you absolutely are! And even with how much you have to lose, 9 lbs lost is great - congrats!

You are not giving up anything but feeling like THAT! :flowerforyou: